Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
North Carolina
North Carolina Holds Off Wake Forest, 11-8
4/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 6, 2002
WINSTON-SALEM, NC -- The seventh-ranked Wake Forest baseball team rallied late and had the game-winning run at the plate in the ninth inning, but fell short in its comeback, losing 11-8 to 12th-ranked North Carolina on Saturday night at Ernie Shore Field.
The Deacons, who trailed 8-0 after four innings, came storming back with four in the sixth, one in the seventh, two in the eighth and one in the ninth when Ryan Hubbard stepped to plate with the bases loaded and two out. But Hubbard, who drilled a grand slam in the sixth inning, couldn't make lightning strike twice as he struck out to end the game.
The Tar Heels scored three unearned runs in the top of the first inning and stretched their lead to 8-0 in the fourth inning with a couple of misplayed fly balls and back-to-back homers from Chad Prosser and Ron Braun.
Wake Forest slipped to 24-6 (7-3 ACC) and lost to North Carolina for the first time since 1999. The Deacons had won nine straight over the Tar Heels who moved to to 22-10 overall, 9-2 in the league. Saturday's win by North Carolina coupled with Clemson's loss gives the Tar Heels sole possession of first place in the ACC entering Sunday's action.
UNC's Garry Bakker (4-1) got credit for the win while Brian Bach (3-1) suffered the loss. Bach pitched 3.1 innings, allowing eight runs on just six hits. Only five of those runs were earned as Bach was the victim of some shaky defense.
Steve LeFaivre equaled a career-high three hits for the Deacons and Jeff Ruziecki added a pair of hits. Senior lefty Ryan Lewis was effective on the mound while Wake Forest mounted its rally. Lewis struck out three in two scoreless innings of work.
The two teams will conclude their weekend series on Sunday afternoon at Hooks Stadium. First pitch is 1:30 p.m. Tim Morley gets the start for the Demon Deacons.
